The Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

A Matter of Time Life has an irony all of its own, what is wished for is not often got, and what is said is not always meant. In “The Story of An Hour”, Kate Chopin illustrates the irony of Louise Mallard’s life in only one hour. Throughout the story dramatic, situational and verbal irony are strategically positioned to keep the reader’s attention.
There are many cases throughout “The Story of An Hour” where the reader has more knowledge about a character or a situation than the characters involved. For example, Josephine, Richards and the doctor all consider that Louise was killed because with the condition of her brittle heart, the shock of her husband’s death would be too much for her to handle. Though, the reader knows that Louise was overjoyed to know her husband was no longer
There is evidence to support that verbal irony plays an important role in how the story ending. In fact, at the beginning of the story we learn that Louise Mallard has a heart condition, yet as the story continues the reader learns the condition resembles Louise’s repression. Mrs. Mallard finds staying in her marriage a painful act, but during the time period the story is set in, she must realize she will abstained from freedom. Additionally, the last line of the story states that “of the joy that kills” (page 54), this states that the character’s believed that Louise’s death was due to the heartbreak from her husband’s death. However, the reader is aware that the news that Mr. Mallard is still alive, destroys Louise inside because her freedom has been revoked. Furthermore, while Louise was in her room looking out the window she whispered about freedom to herself, indicating the excitement of her husband’s passing. The idea of freedom overtakes Louise’s body and she becomes powerless to stopping the possession. Yet, in order for Louise to be free, she cannot lose her idea of